In-Season Dominators

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Reading the Defense: Week 9

A weekly look at IDP trends with a mix of metrics, film study, and matchup strategy

by Jene Bramel, November 2Photo: Kyle Terada, US Presswire

NEWS AND NOTES

***There will be no Week 10 RTD. I'll be back with notes, defensive line tiers, and the every-down linebacker update in Week 11.

***If last week's trade of Kyle Van Noy was oddly surprising, this week's trade of Jamie Collins was frankly shocking. Since Bill Belichick moved Collins to New England, the spin has been that Collins wasn't trustworthy in run defense (somewhat true), would be difficult to re-sign (probably true), and already on his way to a reserve role anyway (likely true).

Whatever the reasons behind the deal, there's lots of fallout to consider.

Patriots: Collins was indeed seeing fewer and fewer snaps in the base defense, with Elandon Roberts drawing more and more praise. And the team just added Van Noy, who's no Collins but the same type of hybrid inside linebacker fit. Belichick does nothing without a larger plan. I think you'll see Roberts play every down -- though there is a chance guys like Trey Flowers and Van Noy and Ninkovich get used in different ways. Dont'a Hightower gets an upgrade, as do safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty.

Browns: I'm not certain the Browns will have an every-down inside linebacker this week. I doubt Collins will be ready to assume a full-time role. Demario Davis has been slowly losing snaps as the Browns play more dime looks with three safeties. Chris Kirksey is the safety option for now, but there will be more competition for tackles in the back seven with Collins added and Ibraheim Campbell getting healthier.

Unlike the linebacker replacements, the safety reinforcements will have value. Robert Blanton looks like he'll play Corey Graham's productive former role. T.J. Green has been productive for Indianapolis. Tyvon Branch was very impressive earlier in the year and could come off injured reserve soon. And Daniel Sorenson has been an underrated part-time hybrid subpackage player in Kansas City. For now, I'd avoid J.J. Wilcox in Dallas, who's been too inconsistent in the past.

***The mess at linebacker in San Diego continues with Denzel Perryman likely to be out multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and Jatavis Brown likely to miss at least one week with a knee sprain. Korey Toomer and Josh Perry will play in the base defense, with Toomer seeing subpackage snaps last week after Brown left late in the fourth quarter. Perry has my interest, but Toomer is the better add. You can find the other linebacker depth chart movements in the every-down table below.

Make sure you're reading Aaron Rudnicki's upgrades and downgrades and John Norton's Eyes of the Guru for more details on last week's play. And we'll have more in our Thursday podcast, including lots of matchup and injury discussion after Wednesday's first practice participation report.

POSITIONAL TIERS

These tiers will not be as extensive as my offseason tiers. During the season, I put players into three categories: Matchup Independent Starters, Matchup Dependent Plays, and Priority Watch List. As the season progresses, the watch list shortens as we learn whether teams are willing to move off their early season starters for unproven talent or not. Dynasty league owners should have an additional category: Stashes you must keep on your roster. In deeper leagues, the matchup dependent list will obviously need to be longer.